Clothespin



J. L. OKELL CLOTHESPIN April 20, 1954 Filed Jan. 15, 1953 Jean L. Okel/ INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful structural and functional improvements in a noveliy constructed clothespin, one which is expressly designed to remain on the clothes line at all times and which is capable of being slid by hand to any position desired without becoming accidentally detached from the stated line.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a clothespin having the aforementioned properties and purposes and which is so constructed that it will virtually lock itself in a handy and ready-to-use position on the line when in use, the same being made to fit any standard line, being capable of easy and ready attachment and, when once on will not come off, unless intentionally removed by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothespin construction which is not only handy because it hangs slidably on the line in constant readiness for adjustable use but is designed to hold greater weight, without slipping or breaking, than similarly performing and constructed types in use, the construction being such that it lends itself to production from metal, wood, or commercial plastics of an appropriate moldable kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin having the stated features and which constitutes an adaptation which is of comparative simplicity in construction, which is strong, durable and economical and has to do with an over-all construction in which manufacturers and users will find their respective requirements and needs satisfactorily met.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a construction characterized by two complemental units, one of which may best be identified as a clothespin unit, and the other one of which may be equally well identified as an adapter unit, that is, a unit which lends itself to adaptable use on a conventional rope-type clothesline and which also is a mounting for the clothespin unit and therefore adapts the clothespin unit for proper clamping association with the clothesline and article of clothing or other item to be hung on the line.

More specifically, the adapter unit is a sort of a block having spaced parallel hooks terminating in beak or bill portions which are spaced from a coacting lip to thus provide satisfactory line embracing and adapter holding means, the latter also having a vertical passage in which one leg of a double-legged clothes in is slidablv mounted, the other leg being arcuately curved and slightly springy in nature to cooperate with the aforementioned hooks.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawmgs.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete ready-to-use clothespin constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. 7

Figure 2 is a view in section and elevation which may be said to be taken on the approximate vertical line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an exaggerated fragmentary section on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a view based on Figure 2 and showing how the clothespin unit has been slid down to provide the desired article gripping and holding position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an exploded type showing the parts or units separately.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Reference is had to Figure 5 wherein it will be seen that the clothespin unit is unitarily denoted by the numeral 6 while the adapter unit is denoted by the numeral 8.

Unit 6 is a forked resilient type and is of onepiece form and may be said to be primarily a double legged construction with one leg I 0 linearly straight and approximately rectangular in cross-section, as shown best in Figure 3, having a stop or flange or shoulder l2 at one end and provided on one side with a dovetailed-shape key M. The other complemental relatively springv and movable leg is denoted by the numeral I 6 and this is decreased gradually in cross-section toward the free tip end I 8. Leg I6 is longitudinally bowed and provided on its gripping surface with serrations providing antisli ping teeth 20. The two legs are connected together at corresponding ends by way of what may be identified asa curvate bend 22. There is a re-entrant or return bend at 24 which affords greater resiliency and defines a gradually narrowing crotch between the two legs.

The adapter block is provided with a guide nassage 26 for the leg H] and with a dovetailed-sha ed complemental pas age 28 which pro ides a kevway for the dovetailed kev or rib I4. There is an outstanding li at 30 and this is situated between a pair of suitably curved spaced par llel hooks 32-32 defining, when combined with the lip, part-circular seats or keepers 3434 for the com- 3 pressible clothesline 36. It will be noticed that the bill or beak portions 38 of the hooks terminate in close spaced proximity relative to the lip so as to provide a restricted entrance into the seats in an obvious manner. The obvious purpose of the pin is to hold the clothes or other articles 46 properly clamped on the clothesline 35. The antislipping teeth serve to obtain a more satisfactory gripping result as is obvious. With the pin designed as shown it will be evident that the weight of the clothes will increase the tightness of the grip on the clothes by the hooks 32-32 combining with the intervening jaw or leg I6.

In order to use the clothespin the adapter is first clipped or fastened on the clothesline and the line must be compressed slightly to slide past the projecting lip 3!! and through the space between said lip and the terminal or bill portions 38 of the hooks. Once seated in the keeper seats the line tends to again expand and the adapter is slidably but retentively mounted on the clothesline. That is to say, the adapter is prevented from falling off of the line. The article to be hung is inserted in place while the pin, that is the leg I0, is slid up through the adapter passage to the elevated position shown in Figure 2. Then, the pin is pushed down in an obvious manner to assume the position seen in Figure 4 whereupon the desired gripping action is had.

When pin 5 (I0 and i6) is pushed down on adapter block 8, curved position of pin it forces article 40 to be hung back to other leg H) of pin 6. In so doing, the rope 36 is forced out of its straight position and assumes the position shown in Figure 6. The weight of the line plus whatever load is on it tends to straighten the line, thus tending to tighten the grip of the pin on the article 40. There is sufiicient distance between the surfaces A and B to allow for this.

It is believed that a carefully considered reading of the foregoing in conjunction with the views of the drawings will bring about a clear understanding of the construction and appreciation of the features to the reader. In the circumstances, a more lengthy detailed description is thought to be unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of parts and features such as fall within the meaning of the subioined claims may be resorted to in actual practice if so desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, an adapter unit comprising a body having passag means, a pair of outstanding spaced parallel companion hooks and being provided between said hooks with an outstanding lip with the bill portions of the hooksspaced from the marginal edge portion of the lip and defining line accommodation keepers, and a complemental resilient forked clothespin having a linearly straight leg slidably mounted in said passage means, the opening of said clothespin being disposed on that side of said adapted unit which is equipped with said hooks.

2. The structure specified in claim 1 wherein said clothespin unit is characterized by a pair of legs connected at corresponding ends, one leg, as stated, being linearly straight and the other leg being longitudinally bowed with the free end thereof diverging in a direction away from said linearly straight leg and at all times spaced away from said bill portions.

3. In a clothespin construction of the class described, in combination, an adapter unit in the form of a block, said block having a vertical passage a portion of which is substantially rectangular in cross-section and another portion of which is dovetailed in cross-section to provide a keyway, said block being provided on one side with a pair of laterally projecting spaced parallel hooks, and provided on the same side with an outstanding lip, said lip being essentially located in the space between the hooks and the free terminal ends of the hooks being in closely spaced relation in respect to the adjacent marginal edge portion of the lip, and a resilient forked clothespin unit embodying a straight leg slidable in said passage and a complemental longitudinally bowed leg, the opening between said legs being disposed on that side of said adapter unit which is equipped with said hooks, said straight leg having a dovetailedshaped key slidable in said keyway.

4. A clothespin construction of the class described comprising, in combination, a clothespin unit embodying a pair of complemental legs, one leg being linearly straight and provided at one endv with shoulder means, the other leg being resilient, longitudinally bowed outwardly toward its free end, and spaced from the first name-d leg and providing an intervening crotch, the corresponding ends of said legs being joined to each other by way of a curvate bend, and an adapter unit for attachably and slidably mounting said clothespin unit on a clothesline, said adapter unit having passage means, said linearly straight leg of the clothespin unit being slidably mounted in said passage means, said adapter unit embodying an outstanding line holding lip and a pair of outstanding spaced parallel line embracing hooks, said hooks being disposed on opposite sides of the lip and in spaced parallelism'with their bill portions, spaced from the adjacent marginal edge of the lip, and the curved leg being in alignment with the space between said hooks, the space between said legs opening in a direction toward said hooks.

References Cited, in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 77,598 Doty May 5, 1868 202,704 Clark Apr. 23, 1878 208,018 Koch Sept. 17, 1878 1,112,679 Craig Oct. 6, 1914 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 513,087 France Oct. 28, 1920 

